Pastor still a man of the cloth

The switch from preaching to polishing might have been sudden, but it was something man of the cloth Ben Hughes had spent years praying for.

Ben launched his Maroochydore Ecowash Mobile franchise on June 4 after five years as a church pastor in Perth.

“I’m a Kiwi and I’ve wanted to live on the Sunshine Coast ever since I visited here as a kid,” the 31-year-old said.

“I just loved the relaxed atmosphere, the scenery is second to none and my wife and I think it’s the most beautiful place in Australia.”

Mr Hughes said Ecowash was perfect because he wanted to be able to be out and about in the community, meeting people.

“The big thing that appealed to me also was that it is saving water, which is at the front of everyone’s mind,” he said.

“And people are pretty much saying ‘Thank God you’re here!’ The response has just been so amazing. So I am very grateful to be spending my days on the Sunshine Coast. And of course we pray for the business to be successful.”

Being a businessman has also enabled him to make some financial contributions to the humanitarian causes he worked closely with as a pastor.

“Being in full-time ministry doesn’t present great financial rewards so this is a time for us to make a bit of money so we can be on the giving end,” he said.

“We like to be able to give at least 10% of what we earn and we are already going that way. That’s our major motivator in doing business.”

Ben, who cleans the cars with his wife by wiping off a polymer compound polish with special cloths, has already found his two vocations were overlapping.

“People confide in me. I still consider myself a minister and that never stops,” he said.

“I was talking to one person the other day who had some marriage struggles. Often people in that situation want to talk about it, so I listen and offer a bit of advice.”

Ecowash Mobile Maroochydore covers the area from Kawana Waters to Coolum. Caloundra and Noosa franchises will be available soon.